Pedal!

This week Elder Butler shares with us a story he read and liked.  We share it here with you.  Have a wonderful week.

At first I saw God as my observer my judge keeping track of the things I did wrong. He was kind of like a U.S. President. I recognized his picture when I saw him but I didn’t really know him.

But when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control it was rather boring but predictable. The shortest distance between two points. But when he took the lead, he knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on. Even though it looked like madness, he said “PEDAL!” I was worried and anxious and I asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I said, “I am scared” He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. The people gave me gifts to take on my journey.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away--extra baggage--too much weight.” So I gave the gifts away to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust him in control of my life, I thought he’d wreck it! But He knows the bike’s secrets. He knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners. He knows how to jump to clear high rocks and knows how to fly through scary passages. I am learning to shut up and pedal. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face and my delightful companion--Jesus Christ.

And when I think I just can’t do it anymore, he just smiles, touches my hand and says—“Pedal.

5 Months so far...

Hello Everyone:
Wow this is crazy to think that. Elder Hopkins and I are doing great and we had a exciting week. We found out that Elder L. Tom Perry is coming to our mission the third week in August. So we'll get to meet him and everything. It was very out of the blue. The week before at zone conference Pres. Greer told us the we would have some Seventy's coming in the later end of the year. But in leadership training he was talking about one thing then just switched to how Elder Perry would be coming in 3 weeks. So something big is going down. :) Also Elder Hopkins and I had some cool experiences too.

On Saturday, we got to go over to Ben Gentry's house and see his twins. It was sooo cool to see him hold his son. He wanted to bless them on Sunday. But, because he isn't a member he can't. When we told him he was very disappointed. You could see the desire in his eyes. So that will help him want to get baptized. Plus Bishop told us that it would only take about 2 months for him to get the priesthood if he got baptized. So he might get it done in the next couple weeks.

And yesterday, we taught our new investigator Chris. We had Brother Pruneda who is a stellar dude. He never served a mission so he loves to come out with us. We had a great lesson and Chris is gonna read and pray about the Book of Mormon. We teach him again on Monday.

And we also taught a Russian woman and her children. She has loved in Pasco for about 9 years. She moved in from Moldova. She speaks good English but can't read very well. So it's hard. But, we have a member that severed his mission over in Moscow coming with us next week. so we'll be able to get to her better. This week seems to have lots of promise. :)

Love you all

ELDER BUTLER